Hooksett Woman Faces Multiple Animal Abuse Charges After Animals Rescued From House In June

Hooksett, NH - Karen Peterson, 70, was arrested by Hooksett Police after an extensive investigation into complaints of animal abuse at a house on Dundee Avenue.

Hooksett police removed dozens of animals from the Dundee Avenue residence after executing a search warrant in June, where they say the animals were being neglected.

Officers from the Hooksett Police Department, assisted by the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NHSPCA), executed the warrant at 12 Dundee Ave. following reports of a large population of cats living in conditions consistent with animal cruelty and neglect.

Upon entering the residence, officers encountered deplorable living conditions, including animals suffering from various health issues and dangerously high levels of ammonia. The severe environment prompted immediate responses from the Town of Hooksett Code Enforcement Officer and the Hooksett Fire Department.

Due to the hazardous ammonia levels, search and rescue operations were briefly paused while firefighters ventilated the structure. Members of the Southeastern NH Hazardous Material Mutual Aid District (SENHHMMAD) also responded to the scene, equipping rescuers with specialized personal protective equipment to safely enter the home and retrieve the remaining animals.

In total, officials transferred custody of 29 cats and two dogs to the NHSPCA and the Animal Rescue League of NH for care and evaluation. Authorities believed an additional 10 to 15 cats remain in the home.

The allegations Peterson faces state that the defendant negligently deprived animals in her custody of necessary care, detailed by the charges below:

Charges 1 & 2 (Canine Neglect): Involve two Bearded Collie dogs named Rowan and Tavish, both of whom suffered from extensive, dense, and compacted matting across substantial portions of their bodies, severely compromising their normal movement and comfort.

Charges 3 through 7 (Feline Neglect & Environmental Hazard): Involve five domestic felines exposed to dangerously high ammonia levels inside the residence alongside severe, unaddressed medical conditions. All five cats had to be euthanized due to poor quality of life:

• Charge 3 (Feline Hooksett 1 - 44636): Suffered from respiratory and neurological disorders.
• Charge 4 (Feline Hooksett 3 - 44636): Suffered from severe dehydration and muscle wasting.
• Charge 5 (Feline Hooksett 12 - 44645): Suffered from severe oral ulcerative lesions, respiratory infection, dehydration, and a flea infestation.
• Charge 6 (Feline Hooksett 15 - 44648): Suffered from abnormal abdominal palpation, flea infestation, dental tartar, muscle atrophy, a heart murmur, and upper respiratory congestion.
• Charge 7 (Feline Hooksett 16 - 44649): Suffered from a neurological disorder, flea infestation, and overall poor body condition.

Peterson was released on $400 cash bail after being booked at the Hooksett Police Station.

NHSPCA President and CEO, Lindsay Hamrick, said, "We're extremely relieved these animals were able to receive the critical medical care they needed. The NHSPCA is committed to helping the most vulnerable animals in our community, and we couldn't do it without the support of those who give to our SOS Fund, which helps us respond when animals in crisis need us most."

If you would like to support NHSPCA, you can learn more at https://nhspca.org/donate/ways-to-give/

Hooksett Code Enforcement officially posted the residence as uninhabitable following the operation.